Soccer. Coupe de France: ambitious OM, frustrated Boudjellal

Boudjellal’s big number

Mourad Boudjellal occupies the field. Majority shareholder of FC Hyères since February 2021, the former president of RC Toulon (Top 14) hoped to receive OM at the Stade Mayol, where he obtained his greatest successes with the RCT.

But the authorities refused for security reasons, and scheduled the match at the Francis-Turcan stadium in Martigues. Boudjellal does not take off. “Not being able to play with us is unthinkable. It’s a big disappointment, “he said again this Friday in an interview with Provence.

All week, the founder and former CEO of the comic book publishing house Soleil Productions has multiplied the speeches and the provocations, until a video published on social networks, inspired by the film Les Collegues, where he assures that Hyères could decide to face OM with a team comprising several women and a recruitment manager in N.9.

“I will decide on Saturday morning which team will play against Marseille. There will be 11 human beings on the ground,” he said on Friday.

The context of this confrontation with OM is all the more explosive as Boudjellal was once a candidate for the purchase of the Marseille club, for a hazy attempt carried out alongside the Franco-Tunisian businessman Mohamed Ajroudi.

“So much the better that it didn’t happen with OM. It was too big to start. I think I would have failed miserably. And that I would have been chased out of Marseilles with tar and feathers,” he summed up last week in the JDD.

OM aim for the trophy

“It’s a real goal. It is very important, ”explained OM President Pablo Longoria on Thursday, who came to greet the press at the Commanderie and who assured that he had no direct contact with Mourad Boudjellal.

The message has obviously circulated in all strata of the club, because Marseille’s ambition has been repeated by all as an element of language. “We got eliminated in the European Cup, we only have the Coupe de France left. We will try to go to the end, ”promised Valentin Rongier after the success brought back from Montpellier on Monday in Ligue 1.

“It’s a competition that we want to win. We know that it’s been a long time since OM won a trophy. Opposite, they will be there to titillate us but we are used to these matches which should not be underestimated, “then confirmed Pape Gueye on Thursday.

Coach Igor Tudor also warned of “the risk of underestimating the opponent”, recalling the accident that occurred two years ago, when OM lost on the lawn of Canet-en-Roussillon, another N2 team. “You have to start from the ground up. This trophy is in front of us and with four or five victories, you can play a final. The motivation is that,” said the Croatian technician.

Marseille decreased

With Harit’s injury and the already confirmed departures of Suarez, Gerson and Touré, OM will be in a small committee for this 32nd final. Especially since Nuno Tavares is suspended, Clauss and Gigot injured and Payet very uncertain.
“But we will have a good team. We must not leave the opportunity for the opponent to believe that he can do it, ”launched Tudor.

The Marseille coach also announced that Ruben Blanco would play in goal in place of Pau Lopez and that Bamba Dieng would start up front. “Not because it’s the Cup, but because it’s important and strong. I want to use it more,” he explained.